Level 2: Essentials of Canoe Touring Course Overview The Essentials of Canoe Touring course is designed to teach beginner paddlers to
safely and enjoyably canoe on lakes and other calm protected flatwater settings.
Skills Course Prerequisites

• Acknowledgment of personal compliance with the ACA Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC)
• Level 1: Introduction to Canoeing Skills class or equivalent skills strongly suggested

Course Duration The course duration should be adjusted to best fit the needs and goals of the participants. Suggested time: Half a day to one day (4-8 hours).
Course Location / Accessible Venues Lakes or coastal waters with potential areas of exposure to mild wind and wave conditions, with
constant access to safe landing and within 1.5 nm from shore:

• Winds less than 10 knots
• Waves less than 1 foot (0.3 meters)
• Current less than 1 knot

Course Size Tandem: 6 participants : 1 Instructor; with an additional instructor, the ratio can be 12 : 2. The maximum number of participants permitted is 12. Solo: 5 participants : 1 Instructor; with an additional instructor, the ratio can be 10 : 2. The maximum number of participants permitted is 10. For additional details, see SEIC Policy Manual Chapter 6.
Instructor This course may be offered by Level 2: Essentials of Canoe Touring (or higher) ACA Instructors, Instructor Trainers, or Instructor Trainer Educators.
Succeeding Courses

• Level 3: Freestyle Canoeing

The following is a general summary of course content for the Essentials of Canoe Touring course. The content covered and sequence of instruction should be adjusted to best fit the participant’s needs, class location and time allowance.
Introduction, Expectations, and Logistics:

• Welcome, introductions, paperwork
• Student and Instructor course expectations and limitations
• Course itinerary and site logistics
• Review waiver, assumption of risk, challenge by choice, medical disclosure
• About the ACA
• Life jacket policy (always wear on water)
• Appropriate personal behavior
  • No alcohol / substance abuse
  • Proper etiquette on and off the water
  • Respect private property
  • Practice Leave No Trace ethics

The Paddling Environment

• How to hold the paddle in correct orientation and grip for effective paddling
• Wind
• Waves
• Weather
• Water

Personal Preparation

• Personal ability
• Swimming ability
• Water comfort and confidence
• Fitness, conditioning, and warm up
• Safe paddle and board handling
• Safety and rescue considerations
• Personal equipment (reviewed by Instructor)

Equipment

• Life Jackets: types & sizing
• Canoes: types, materials, parts, including safety features
• Paddles: types, (straights, bents, etc), materials, parts, sizing, how to hold
• Personal equipment: water, food, shoes, hat, sunscreen, bug repellent, sun glasses, eyeglass straps, protective clothing for heat / cold
• Safety gear: sponge, bailer/pump, whistle, knife, light
• Equipment / outfitting for Touring: ie., drybag, maps, extra paddle
• Care of equipment

Getting Started

• Warm up and stretching
• Canoe carries: overhead & suitcase
• Car topping: loading and unloading, racks, straps
• Launching and landing from shore or dock, parallel or perpendicular to
• Boarding, three points of contact, keep weight low, etc.
• Positions in the canoe, sitting, kneeling
• Posture, rocking and balance
• Canoe Trim
• Trip Planning – 6P's: Prior Proper
• Planning Prevents Poor Performance
• Federal, State, and Local laws & Regulations
• Leave No Trace; paddling etiquette

Safety and Rescue:

• Exercising Judgment, Safety as a mind set, etc.
• Hypothermia, Cold Water Shock: HELP, HUDDLE, clothing
• Hyperthermia: hydration, clothing
• Hazards: wind, waves, weather, rocks
• Responsibility of Group, Individual, Rescuer, Victim
• Rescue sequence: RETHROG
• Rescue priorities: people, boats, gear
• Signals: Whistle, Paddle, Hand
• Evaluate water confidence and comfort
• Controlled capsize-deep water
• Swim a boat 25 feet to shore
• Empty a boat full of water at shore
• Canoe over canoe rescue (T Rescue) on quiet water
• Side by Side (parallel) rescue
• Re-entry: Self & Assisted, Heel Hook, Sling
• Towing a tired swimmer / canoe

Paddling Concepts:

• Canoe physics: Pull the paddle, push the canoe; quick turns, steer from the rear
• Paddle Physics: vertical blade & shaft, not carried past body on a travel stroke
• Body Physics: torso rotation, shoulder injury, use large muscles
• Terminology: onside, offside
• Stroke parts: Catch, Propulsion, Recovery (CPR)
• Types of strokes: traveling & turning
• Tandems: paddle on opposite sides, in cadence, match power
• Switch sides for fatigue and steering

Strokes and Maneuvers Using Bent & Straight Shaft Paddles: Strokes:

• Forward with switch, with bent paddles
• Forward, with J and C corrections
• Cross forward
• Back
• Draw: Abeam
• Bow Draw: dynamic, static
• Stern Draw
• Cross draw: abeam
• Cross Bow Draw: dynamic, static
• Pushaway: bow, stern
• Pry: bow, stern
• Sculling: drawing and prying
• Sweeps: Forward and Reverse

Maneuvers

• Forward: straight 50 yards
• Stopping: (Forward, Reverse) 1 boat length
• Reverse: reasonably straight
• Spin: 360 degree pivot to onside, offside
• Stop Turns (quick 90 degree turn to a complete stop)
• Turn: turn in arc while underway
• Abeam: sideways both sides 20 FT without headway
• Sideslips: boat moves sideways with headway

Conclusion and Wrap Up

• Trip planning, organization, and considerations for full day trip
• Course limitations
• Importance of First Aid & CPR
• Importance of additional instruction, practice, experience
• Importance of appropriate level of safety and rescue training
• Demo advanced maneuver
• Life sport / Paddling options
• Local paddling groups / Clubs
• Handouts / Reference materials
• ACA Membership forms

© American Canoe Association Date of last revision: 12/8/2023 https://americancanoe.org